No relaxation: thousands of teachers retire

Schools - No relaxation: thousands of teachers retire

At Berlin's schools, there is no sign of a sustainable solution in teacher supply. The number of teachers is decreasing despite continuous new hirings, while the number of pupils is increasing, as Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU) explained after the Senate session. She had previously presented the annual report on the development of pupil numbers and teacher requirements. The high number of retirements is exacerbating the problem. Previously, the "Tagesspiegel" had reported on the topic.

Pupil numbers are increasing significantly

The need is clear from the data presented by the Education Senator: According to her report, a total of approximately 355,000 pupils are attending Berlin's public general schools during the 2023/2024 school year. According to the forecast, this number will increase to around 372,200 in the next ten years, in the school year 2032/2033. That's an increase of 17,000 pupils, about five percent across all year groups.

At the same time, the number of teachers is decreasing due to retirements and other departures by around 1,600 per year, said Günther-Wünsch. In the coming years, there is expected to be a teacher shortage as a result.

Shortage of teachers for the new school year

According to the available data as of the end of May, there are 695 missing teachers at Berlin schools. However, it was approximately 1,500 fewer in the previous year.

"We still have a window of opportunity for hiring until the end of the school year," said the CDU politician. This number is usually corrected downwards by then. However, it cannot be ruled out that it may also increase, for example if teachers who have agreed to take up a position, but then back out.

The Senator intends to hold talks with school heads and school associations in the coming months about how to best use the limited personnel resources where they are needed. For core subjects - i.e., the subjects determined by the so-called timetable and the adherence to framework teaching plans - approximately 18,000 teaching positions are required, according to the education administration.

Additional offers such as special and remedial education mean that the need in the current school year is a total of around 32,000 positions. It is here that Günther-Wünsch sees a need for talks. So far, positions have been distributed according to the "bucket principle."

Teaching profession should be more attractive

Günther-Wünsch announced that she intends to hold talks with school heads and school associations in the coming months about how to best use the limited personnel resources where they are needed. For core subjects - i.e., the subjects determined by the so-called timetable and the adherence to framework teaching plans - approximately 18,000 teaching positions are required, according to the education administration.

Additional offers such as special and remedial education mean that the need in the current school year is a total of around 32,000 positions. It is here that Günther-Wünsch sees a need for talks. So far, positions have been distributed according to the "bucket principle."

In the future, the different conditions at the roughly 800 publicly funded schools in Berlin should be taken into account more strongly, Günther-Wünsch announced. This means that some schools may have to waive positions. "There will be decisions to be made that will not please everyone in practice."

The teaching profession should be made more attractive.

At the same time, we are working hard to make the teaching profession more attractive, said the Senator. "We are pushing for civil service status intensely." The goal is to keep our colleagues in Berlin. Another possibility is to enable the employment of so-called one-subject teachers - those who, unlike in classical teacher training, only teach one subject.

"We are in exchange with the scientific administration," said Günther-Wünsch. "I am very confident that we will come to results next year." Whether such measures will be sufficient, will be shown.

1. The growing number of pupils in Berlin's schools, which was approximately 355,000 during the 2023/2024 school year, is projected to reach around 372,200 in the school year 2032/2033, an increase of 17,000 pupils, according to Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU).
2. Currently, there are 695 missing teachers at Berlin schools, a reduction from approximately 1,500 fewer in the previous year, as stated by Günther-Wünsch.
3. In the coming years, Berlin is expected to have a teacher shortage due to retirements and other departures, with around 1,600 teachers leaving annually.
4. To address the teacher shortage and efficiently distribute limited personnel resources, Günther-Wünsch plans to collaborate with school heads and school associations in the coming months.
5. Core subjects require approximately 18,000 teaching positions, while additional offers like special and remedial education necessitate an additional 14,000 positions for the current school year, according to Günther-Wünsch.
6. To make the teaching profession more attractive, measures such as granting civil service status and enabling the employment of one-subject teachers are being considered, with discussions underway between the education administration and scientific staff. These measures aim to retain teachers in Berlin and improve the overall teacher supply issue.

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